The two grades we absolutely needed to win didn’t; but the others consolidated |
|||||||||
|
First and fourth grade need a miracle to make the finals with losses against Parramatta, while wins to seconds, thirds, fifths and Colts put them in strong positions.
Two more wickets either side of lunch with James Packman and Dan Smith out and Cam was joined by Iain Beverley who decided he was going to be there as long as he could. |
 |
 |
Jules Stephenson, Harry Evans and Greg Lewis at Old Kings
There were just not enough runs on the board on this wicket and the loss now puts us in 12th position and 9 points out of the finals race. We need to finish with wins in the last two rounds and results go our way.
First Grade Scores
Gordon 231 (Cam Eccles 70, Iain Beverley 54, Steve Colley 39, Chad Soper 27) were defeated by Parramatta 4 for 232 (Greg Lewis 2 for 50 (14) Harry Evans 1 for 20 (12), Jules Stephenson 1 for 34 (15)
Second Grade
The tradition at Chatswood most of the summer has been to send in teams with generally some moisture in the wicket from rain during the past week.
Justin hits the six to pass his 100
This track however, while it had a good covering of grass was very hard and Blair Lindsay in his first game as skipper decided he would allow his bats to have a go first. Groundsman Glenn had also said this was the best track he had produced this year and that was enough for Blair.
Brett Rosen and Jordan Liddle batted very sensibly and laid the platform for a big score. They added 57 for the first wicket which was just what was needed. Brett and Blair Lindsay added another 66 before Brett was dismissed for an excellent 69. After he departed, Blair Lindsay and Justin Avendano took the bowling to task.
Justin was particularly severe on the bowling, playing many exciting strokes, while Blair played in his normal calm, efficient style. A century partnership from those two was followed by a very stylish 42 from Elliott Richtor and it was going to be a big total for Gordon.
Before long Justin Avendano had reached his century at better than a run a ball and it was made up of some wonderful drives and strokes through mid-on and mid-wicket. His hitting was so strong there was no concern to hit a big six over the Charlie Macartney scoreboard to bring up his 100.
This was Justin’ s second ton for the year (the other in Poidevin-Gray) and he went on to score 134.
Parramatta came back strongly in the final session with the second new ball, taking 6 wickets. However, some lusty blows from Adair Durie and Pat Effeney saw the total over 400.
 |
 |
 |
Brett Rosen, Blair Lindsay and Elliot Richtor at Chatswood against Parramatta
The next morning saw a start the team was definitely not looking for and with some either side of the wicket bowling before long it was lunch with Parramatta on 1 for 158 and looking like they would reach the target of 406 in a canter.
The new captain Blair Lindsay had a job on his hands to bring his side back into the reckoning and whatever was in the rolls at lunch we should find out quick because the team came out with a resolve to bowl one side of the wicket and to put pressure on in the field. A slowing of the run rate and a realisation 400 is a big score saw wickets start to fall and before long Parra were 6 for 220 and we had regained the momentum.
During this time Kurt Roughley and Elliot Richtor picked up wickets while Blair contributed himself with some tight spin bowling.
The Parra middle order kept working hard to get the total, however two run outss with some brilliant fielding by James Kidd and Justin Avendano put the skids on the Parra chase. In the end another wicket each to Kurt and Elliot and Parra were all out for 325.
 |
James Kidd runs toward his team mates after a briliant run out just when it was needed
“It was a great team effort” was the immediate comment of Blair Lindsay and no doubt Ben Garratt will be happy to return next week with the momentum still going towards a finals birth.
Second Grade Scores
Gordon 9-406 (Justin Avendano 134, Brett Rosen 69, Blair Lindsay 63, Elliott Richtor 42, Jordan Liddle 28) defeated Parramatta 325 (Kurt Roughley 4 for 68, Elliot Richtor 2 for 53, James Kidd 1 for 41, Blair Lindsay 1 for 57)
Third Grade
Thirds won the toss. Sorry that must have been a typo on the score sheet. I will check again. It says that thirds won the toss, but maybe Ed senior had too many Forbidden fruit by then and was affected when he wrote that in the book.
Ed Howitt is on his way
Either way Gordon were batting and like in first grade our top order couldn’t hold out early and before long we were 3 for 52 and in trouble with only Ed Howitt scoring some runs. If 3 for 52 was in trouble then 6 for 52 was a disaster as Clem Bromwich, Kris Colley and Tjaard Tait were the victims of a hat trick. Fortunately Ian Higgins was at the other end and he decided they were not going to get him out and he sought the assistance of the tail to re-build our innings.
And this is just what they did, first Tom Beverley and Ian put on 74, before Tom was out and then Alex Lines joined the party to help Ian. Missy was batting very well with some good bowling keeping up the pressure and his century was only a glide away, when he hit a short ball straight to mid-wicket and finished on 99. While this was a great score, if ever a century was deserved it was this one.
Charlie Bangs showed his style at the close of our innings with 22 not out and we finished with 222, a great score considering our start.
As so often can be the case the momentum of the game had been turned around and Parra lost two wickets in the 3 overs before stumps with Ed bringing on the spinner Tjaard Tait to get a wicket in the final over.
Ian Higgins did a lot of early defending to get us back on track
The next day saw a real tussle up to tea with Parra fighting all the way to be 5 for 104 and looking to chase our total. The experience of Ed Howitt really came to the fore after tea, however and with himself and Alex Lines tightening the screws they only allowed 2 runs over a 47 ball period to frustrate the Parra bats. Wickets started to fall and Hoppa gratefully collected 4 while Tjaard Tait finished with 3 and Charlie Bangs and Will Sweeney one each.
Parra were all out for 132 and the thirds were very pleased to get a win after being 6 for 52 in their innings. No doubt Ian Higgins was the man of the match however Tom Beverley did well to stay with Ian when the chips were down as well as taking two good catches, a stumping and a very quick bail removal for a run out to play his part for the team.
The win consolidates our third position with two matches to play.
Third Grade Scores
Gordon 222 (Ian Higgins 99, Alex Lines 24, Tom Beverley 22, Charlie Bangs 22 not out) defeated Parramatta 132 (Ed Howitt 4 for 32, Tjaard Tait 3 for 23, Will Sweeney 1 for 25, Charlie Bangs 1 for 27)
Fourth Grade
Another toss won but another early collapse with a run out mix up in the second over and two more wickets, we were 3 for 23 and in need of a partnership. There was a feeling it was going to be Jack Colley’s day as he gradually built the score with the assistance of Chris Retallick.
Jack Colley clears the fence against Parra
Both of these players started to take to the bowling on a good wicket and before long they had added 125. Jack was batting beautifully however was out on 84, just when that elusive 100 was there for the taking. It won’t be long Jack, keep it going.
Unfortunately Chris was out the next over and from a position of strength we were only able to add another 50 and we were all out for 188, which was going to be tough to defend on this good wicket.
The Parra opener was determined to hang around and while we took two wickets the stumps score of 2 for 52 was a good start for the Parra team.
The next day we couldn’t seem to get the momentum to take the wickets and at tea Parra were 5 for 140 and looking to get home with ease. As he has been known to do Adam Cubbage came to the party with two quick wickets and one to Michael Perry and suddenly Parra were 8 down and still needing 27 runs. From here it was simply a case of the Parra bats taking their chances which came off and they got home 8 down.
The match was lost with the batting when we went from 3 for 140 to be all out for 188.
Fourth Grade Scores
Gordon 188 (Jack Colley 84, Chris Retallick 42, Adam Cubbage 33) were defeated by Parramatta 8 for 189 (Adam Cubbage 3 for 51, Tom Gooch 2 for 27)
Fifth Grade
Fifth Grade travelled to Mona Park 3 in Auburn for their match and a venue Gordon had not played at before with the normal 5th grade Parramatta ground Princess Park being turned into a soccer complex. As Missy Higgins in his new website podcast asked “who is playing on Mona 1 and 2, it was left to the webmaster to travel there camera in hand to find out.
Tom Carruthers at Mona Park
Mona Park is the Auburn Sub Districts home ground and they have provided Parra with their ground while they seek out a new venue.
Gordon were sent in on a damp wicket that must have got some of Friday afternoon’s rain as the ball was popping and making things difficult for the bats. Again like the other grades (other than 2’s) we were in trouble and at 4 for 40 were looking for a saviour or two.
About this time in the day we were 5 for 90 in firsts, 6 for 52 in thirds and 3 for 30 in thirds so there weren’t many positive texts. It isn’t pleasant batting in the top 5 grades as the “beep beep” generally meant another wicket…somewhere!!
The saviours, as in the other matches, arrived at Mona and Andrew Crosland, Tristan Cooper and Can Richtor set about getting us a total was could have a go at defending, knowing the wicket would still be tricky later in the day. They got us to 159 with the master Toddy licking his lips for a bowl. Andrew Crosland did well to fight his way out of a slump and hopefully his 37 will start a run for him.
Soon Dan Stickland had a wicket and without much delay Tom Cockburn had Matt Todd in the attack and his leggies were soon too difficult for the Parra bats. Three quick wickets to Toddy and one to Tom Cockburn in the final over had Parra 5 for 36 at stumps.
Tom started the next day with Dan Stickland and Tom Carruthers who stuck to the plan and kept Parra on the back foot. It was time then to unleash Toddy again and before long he was taking wickets again and with the wicket still fresh he soon had another 6 wicket haul. The Parra team was dismissed for 127 and the fives find themselves on the winning track again and back in second place
Fifth Grade Scores
Gordon 159 (Andrew Crosland 37, Tristan Cooper 31, Dan Richtor 23) defeated Parramatta 127 (Matt Todd 6 for 52, Dan Stickland 1 for 30, Tom Carruthers 1 for 22, Tom Cockburn 1 for 0)
The great man Falky shows his skills
Colts
Forget about Warnie, MacGill and Hogg making comebacks, the “real” show was at Beauchamp Park where the legend of left arm orthodox bowler Michael Falk was called into the fray when a player called in sick before the Colts match against Western Suburbs. The match was almost delayed as a contract was drawn up with conjecture as to whether Falky would play on a match by match fee or negotiate a 5 match contract to the end of the season. With his lawyer present, he finally agreed to his normal match fee on the condition he would also paint the lines at the afternoon tea break. With the ink on the contract still wet, he happened to have his creams ready in the car and the young Colts prepared for the return of the great man.
Gordon lost the toss and bowled first on an excellent Beauchamp wicket.
 |
 |
Michael Falk leaves the field for tea to the rupturous applause of the spectators at Beauchamp and then goes out to meet his contractural playing terms.
Western Suburbs started solidly and after an early wicket to Deva Nirthankumaran it was clear that it was going to be hard work on such a good deck. At 3-97, a big score loomed but the Magpies were tied down by some accurate bowling with Adam Aarons and Iqbal Ahmed bowling really good spells.
Then the moment had arrived, Falky was summoned to the bowling crease to mesmerise his inexperienced opponents with 58 years of bowling expertise. (He was bowling before he turned 1). The microphone was attached to the shirt and he was away. “Geez, that was hard” after the first delivery, then “I think I will bowl him a nothing ball next one to see if he thinks it will spin” was heard for the second delivery.
The Wests batsman didn’t know what to think of this dart exponent from yesteryear showing them all how to not flight the ball and bowl straight.
Over after over went by and singles were being squeezed while two wickets fell to the legendary Falky “arm ball”. 10 overs later and Falky had 2 for 17 and the stretcher was being called to assist him off. There wasn’t going to be a stretcher for Falky however as the lines had to be re-painted at the tea break and he wouldn’t want to break his contract.
The batsmen started to become frustrated due to the accurate bowling and good fielding and wickets began to fall. In the middle 20 overs, only 41 runs were added and, in trying to lift the rate, the middle order struggled. Dave Monaghan picked up 3 wickets and at the end of 50 overs, Wests had only scored 164 – well below par on a belter.
Skipper Dave Millar sends one down against Wests
It was important that early wickets weren’t lost if the Stags were going to win. They weren’t lost. Andrew Coleman and Tim Van Zuylen went out with all guns blazing and the score moved into the 60s after only 6-7 overs. They added 105 before Tim was dismissed for a good 42 in the 15th over. Another wicket, but Andrew kept on scoring quickly and the issue was, could the Stags get to the total in 25 overs which (in the Metro Cup) meant 2 bonus points. Hugh Selby, making a guest appearance after a time away from the side, also kept the score moving until, with one ball remaining in the 25th over, one run was needed for the win. AND…Andrew was dismissed.
However, a really good bonus point win. A feature was the fielding and the way the side really stuck to their guns. Andrew Coleman’s 90 was also an excellent knock and featured many great strokes, particularly straight down the ground. The Colts caravan moves on.
Colts scores
Gordon Colts 3-165 (Andrew Coleman 90, Tim Van Zuylen 42, Hugh Selby 10*) defeated Western Suburbs 9-164 (Dave Monaghan 3-30, Michael Falk 2-17, Jack Skilbeck 1-12, Deva Nirthankumaran 1-20, Iqbal Ahmed 1-23, Adam Aarons 1-37) with one bonus point.
The webmaster
